bellies birth and beyond

WHAT IS A DOULA?

Throughout the ages, in nearly all societies for which we have records, women have been helped and comforted in labor by other women. These women stayed throughout labor providing physical comfort, emotional reassurance, and information. Essentially, labor support is "mothering the mother." Today, labor support professionals called doulas (DOO-lah; Greek for "woman who serves") are trained to provide the comfort and care women need during labor.

 

A doula....

• Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life

• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

• Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth

• Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor

• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions

• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers

• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his comfort level

• Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience

Why is support in labor important to consider?
Your memories of labor, including the full intensity of your feelings, will stay with you for the rest of your life. Of course you want your experience to be as positive as possible. Research shows that the availability of support in labor can affect how you feel about your labor, yourself, your baby, and your partner. It can even affect your chances of having a cesarean, vacuum extraction, or forceps delivery; the likelihood that you will need pain medications; and your baby's condition at birth. Labor support can help you avoid or reduce risks associated with these interventions.


Would I still benefit from having a doula if I think I will want an epidural or other pain medication?
Women who plan to use pain medications could also appreciate having a doula for many reasons:
-Women and their partners need information and emotional support, whether they use pain medication or not; although pain may be removed with an epidural, other questions and concerns remain.
-Many women do not experience pain-free labor with pain medications and will still welcome comfort measures and mental strategies to help with pain.
-It is hard to push effectively without sensation in the pelvic area, and an experienced doula can be a helpful guide during the pushing phase of labor if a woman has had an epidural.
-According to your wishes, a trained doula can also help you avoid, delay, or minimize the use of pain medication, which in turn may help you avoid or limit some of their potential adverse effects.

When would my doula arrive?

Your doula is meant to be a continuous physical and emotional support for you during your entire labor and will be with you as soon as you need her. She will meet you at your home to assist you in laboring in your own environment and accompany you to the hospital.

Does a doula perfrom medical tasks?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

 Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions. She will make sure her client has all the pros and cons and will only give her opinion when directly asked.

 Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he feels comfortable. A doula's presence enhances the experience for the partner by giving him information and suggestions and making sure his needs are met as well.